Marian Hymns #2

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Two popular Marian hymns are featured on this page. Others are found here. For online hymns (MIDI) and other music, view the resources page.

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Bring Flowers of the Rarest
The custom of dedicating the month of May to Mary because at the end of the 13th century. This hymn is one of the most popular associated with the crowning of a statue of the Virgin.

Bring flowers of the fairest, bring flowers of the rarest,
From garden and woodland and hillside and vale,
Our full hearts are swelling, our glad voices telling
the praise of the lovliest Rose of the vale.

(Chorus) O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today;
Queen of angels, Queen of the May;
O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today;
Queen of the angels, Queen of the May.

Our voices ascending, in harmony blending
Oh, thus may our hearts turn dear Mother to thee:
Oh, thus shall we prove thee, how truly we love thee,
How dark without Mary life's journey would be.

(Chorus)

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Stabat Mater (Sorrowful Mother)
This hymn originated with the Franciscans in the 13th century. It is based on Simeon's prophecy (Mark 2:35) and is most frequently used with the Stations of the Cross.

At, the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has passed.

O how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother, highly blest,
of the sole-begotten One.

Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother's pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender Child
All with scourges rent:

For the sins of His own nation,
saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.

O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord:

Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ my Lord.

Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified:

Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live:

By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of the to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;

Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
by Thy Mother my defense,
by Thy Cross my victory;

While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
safe in paradise with Thee.
Amen.

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